Travelling with pet birds is subject to strict regulations. Many species are protected under CITES and there are different requirements depending on the country of origin. Find out about entry regulations, necessary documents and procedures for entering and leaving Switzerland.
Special regulations
To prevent the introduction of avian flu, travel with pet birds is subject to strict regulations. Species conservation regulations also apply to many bird species.
The travel regulations described here apply to birds kept as pets that are travelling with their owner and are not intended for sale or for transfer to new owners.
Birds are considered pets if they are kept in the household out of interest in the animal or as companions.
Fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ratites are NOT considered pet birds. They are subject to special regulations for commercial import.
When leaving Switzerland with pet birds, you must comply with the entry regulations of the destination country. For authoritative information, you can contact the representations of the destination country.
To enter Switzerland with pet birds, different regulations apply depending on the country you are travelling from.
When entering from the following countries, the same regulations apply as for entry from the EU: Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City
Find out early on about the requirements and necessary documents.
To enter Switzerland from the EU with pet birds, no special documentation is required, apart from any CITES documents.
Special entry regulations apply for birds coming from third countries. Depending on the type of entry, costs may be incurred for transport at the airport, a stay at the animal facility, veterinary border inspection, customs duties and any additional fees
Please contact the relevant authorities for further information.
Birds must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate and owner’s declaration:
Since no quarantine facilities are available in Switzerland and vaccination against avian influenza is not permitted, the quarantine requirements must be fulfilled before entering Switzerland (as set out in the veterinary certificate, part I.25 and part II). Birds may therefore only be brought into the country if:
before leaving the country of origin, they have been kept separately and officially monitored for at least 30 days, or
have spent at least 14 days in quarantine and have been examined for avian influenza by an official vet.
On arrival the birds must be taken to a household or another residence. They are not permitted to take part in shows, fairs, exhibitions or other events involving birds until at least 30 days after their arrival.
Entry is only possible via permitted entry points where a veterinary border control can be carried out:
A veterinary border control is mandatory. For this reason, direct entry into Switzerland is possible only via the airports of Zurich and Geneva.
Veterinary border controls can only be carried out during regular opening hours.
Birds arriving outside these times will be taken to the control post’s animal facility and not controlled until the next working day.
After the control has been carried out and customs formalities completed, you can collect the birds from the border veterinary service in the freight area of the airport.
Accompanied entry
If you as an owner are travelling with your birds on the same aircraft, you must check the animals in as excess baggage or ‘AVI in hold’.
On arrival, the birds must be collected at the baggage carousel and reported to customs (red exit).
Customs informs the veterinary border service. A transport company then takes the birds to the animal facility where the border veterinary service control takes place. The birds must be accompanied by all required documents at all times.
Unaccompanied entry
If pet birds are travelling without their owner, they can only enter as freight. The airline issues an air waybill (AWB) and after landing the birds are taken to the animal facility in the freight area of the airport.
Entry as an unaccompanied pet bird is possible, in principle, within a period of five days before or after you as the owner travel. If this period cannot be complied with, proof must be provided that the birds were already under your charge in the country of origin. Relevant information and supporting documents must be submitted to the FSVO for verification.
